Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, Ludwigshafen, Rheinland-Pfalz - Demetrius Andrade (24-0, 16 KOs) won a twelve round split decision over a game Jack Culcay (22-2, 11 KOs) to win the WBA "regular" junior middleweight title. The scores were 116-112 for Andrade, 115-114 for Culcay and 116-112 for Andrade. Andrade is now in line to face the WBA's "super champion" at 154-pounds, Erislandy Lara.
This was Andrade's first fight since last June's TKO win over Willie Nelson.
Culcay first captured the interim-WBA 154-pound title in May of 2015 with a win over Maurice Weber. He then retained the belt with victories over Dennis Hogan and Jean Carlos Prada, which took place last April. He was elevated to the status of "regular" champion when Lara was elevated to the status of WBA "super champion" at junior middleweight.
From the start, the size difference was very evident. Andrade was much bigger than Culcay - taller, longer and appeared to be at least a division or two above the German fighter.
Andrade came out working a jab. Culcay rushed him with a variety of punches. Culcay was keeping the fight at close range and trying to work the body. Andrade let go of a combination in the closing moments. Andrade was more in the second. He came out taking more risks, throwing big punches and trying to do damage. Culcay had his moments with quick, rapid bursts of punches.
Culcay was looking to make it a real brawl in the third round. He stayed on the inside and they were punching away with each other. The same trend continued in the fourth and fifth, as Culcay and Andrade were trading punches at close range. Andrade was warned more than once for punching low.
Andrade was becoming more accurate in the sixth round, but Culcay was game and making it a real fight with his tactic of non-stop punching in the final minute of the rounds. Culcay continued to apply the pressure in the seventh round as Andrade took his foot off the gas and wasn't doing much punching. The fight was give and take in the eight and ninth. Both boxers were having their moments. Andrade was doing very well in the ninth and with accurate shots, but Culcay kept coming.
Andrade was keeping the distance, using the jab and landing a lot more punches in the tenth. He was switching between southpaw and orthodox as he was landing away. They were trading hard shots to the body in the eleventh. Andrade was doing more damage, and landing hard counters to the head. Culcay was never really hurt by anything, but he was unable to capitalize with his counters. Andrade was really letting his hands go in the final minute.
In the twelfth and final round, Culcay came out swinging and looking to change the tide. Andrade was blocking and ducking away from a lot of punches while firing back with counters. He caught Andrade with a very good uppercut, but Andrade took the punch and continued to swing back with counters. They were trading big punches in the final minute and it appeared that Andrade may have been stunned by a big counter hook, but he stayed on his feet and fought back to the bell.
